Akshay, a Marathi-American teenager struggles to prepare kaju katli for the annual Diwali party, consumed by grief. He is forced to reckon with the true reason he is struggling to create this dessert, redefining his place in his culture.

Director Biography - Sujay Khona

Sujay Khona is a director and cinematographer from Chantilly, Virginia. As a filmmaker, Sujay works to uplift marginalized voices through his work. He is currently completing his senior year at George Mason University. He's excited to continue telling stories that expand narratives surrounding his identity and empowering others to do the same.

Director Statement

As a second-generation immigrant, I have not always valued the ways my family connected me to India, especially because I felt that aspects of my identity created a divide between me and my cultural heritage. However, as I’ve grown up, I’ve become closer to my culture and have begun to value the way that my family connects me to my roots. These cultural traditions bridge communities and generations together, regardless of distance and time, and are vital to our diaspora.